US7065686B2 - Dual port RAM - Google Patents
Dual port RAM Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US7065686B2 US7065686B2 US10/173,826 US17382602A US7065686B2 US 7065686 B2 US7065686 B2 US 7065686B2 US 17382602 A US17382602 A US 17382602A US 7065686 B2 US7065686 B2 US 7065686B2
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- test
- self
- signal
- port
- memory block
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related, expires
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11C—STATIC STORES
- G11C29/00—Checking stores for correct operation ; Subsequent repair; Testing stores during standby or offline operation
- G11C29/04—Detection or location of defective memory elements, e.g. cell constructio details, timing of test signals
- G11C29/08—Functional testing, e.g. testing during refresh, power-on self testing [POST] or distributed testing
- G11C29/12—Built-in arrangements for testing, e.g. built-in self testing [BIST] or interconnection details
- G11C29/12015—Built-in arrangements for testing, e.g. built-in self testing [BIST] or interconnection details comprising clock generation or timing circuitry
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11C—STATIC STORES
- G11C29/00—Checking stores for correct operation ; Subsequent repair; Testing stores during standby or offline operation
- G11C29/04—Detection or location of defective memory elements, e.g. cell constructio details, timing of test signals
- G11C29/08—Functional testing, e.g. testing during refresh, power-on self testing [POST] or distributed testing
- G11C29/12—Built-in arrangements for testing, e.g. built-in self testing [BIST] or interconnection details
- G11C29/14—Implementation of control logic, e.g. test mode decoders
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11C—STATIC STORES
- G11C8/00—Arrangements for selecting an address in a digital store
- G11C8/16—Multiple access memory array, e.g. addressing one storage element via at least two independent addressing line groups
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a dual port RAM (random access memory) capable of writing or reading data to or from the same memory from two independent ports, and more particularly to its self-test function.
- RAM random access memory
- a dual port RAM has a memory block and two ports A and B. If a normal operation is specified by a mode signal MOD in the dual port RAM, the port A of the memory block is connected to a system bus of a first functional block and is given a first clock signal. The port B of the memory block is connected to a system bus of a second functional block B and is given a second clock signal. In addition, a self-test circuit connected to the memory block is disconnected by a selector.
- the port A and the port B of the memory block are disconnected from the first and second functional blocks by the selector and then connected to the self-test circuit.
- a first clock signal is supplied to the port A of the memory block and the self-test circuit.
- a first clock signal is supplied to the port B of the memory block via a selector.
- the self-test circuit tests data write/read processing to or from the memory block and then a test result is output.
- data written from the port A is read from the port B for verification or conversely data written from the port B is read from the port A for verification. Since a single self-test circuit is used for controlling the port A and the port B of the memory block simultaneously, these ports A and B are given a common clock signal (the first clock signal) for the read/write processing.
- the above dual port RAM has the following problem.
- the self-test there is a need for supplying the same first clock signal as one for the port A to the port B. Therefore, the first and second clock signals are switched to each other by using the selector on a clock supplying path in the side of the port B. This causes a difference in timing between the first clock signal supplied to the port A and the first clock signal supplied to the port B, which disables a normal self-test particularly in a fast operation, thus causing a problem.
- the dual port RAM is incapable of performing a self-test when the first and second clock signals at the port A and the port B are different from each other in speed.
- the present invention has been provided. It is an object of the present invention to provide a dual port RAM capable of performing a self-test with clock signals having two different timings.
- a dual port RAM comprising: an any-time readable/writable memory block in which an access can be made to the same storage area from independent first and second ports, a first test circuit for performing a test to the storage area of the memory block via the first port on the basis of a first clock signal, a second test circuit for performing a test to the storage area of the memory block via the second port on the basis of a second clock signal, and a control circuit for causing the first and second test circuits to test the memory block alternately.
- FIG. 1 is a configurational diagram of a dual port RAM showing a first embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a signal waveform diagram showing a self-test operation in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a dual port RAM showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a signal waveform diagram showing a self-test operation in FIG. 3 .
- FIG. 1 there is shown a configurational diagram of a dual port RAM showing a first embodiment of the present invention.
- This dual port RAM has a memory block 1 having two ports A and B.
- the port A of the memory block 1 is connected to a system bus 2 A in the side of a functional block A (not shown) via a selector 3 A and it is to be given a clock signal CKA.
- the port B of the memory block 1 is connected to a system bus 2 B in the side of a functional block B (not shown) via a selector 3 B and it is to be given a clock signal CKB.
- this dual port RAM has self-test circuits 10 A and 10 B for testing the memory block 1 .
- the self-test circuit 10 A is given a clock signal CKA and is connected to the port A of the memory block 1 via the selector 3 A through a bus 11 A.
- the self-test circuit 10 B is given a clock signal CKB and is connected to the port B of the memory block 1 via the selector 3 B through a bus 11 B.
- the selectors 3 A and 3 B enable switching between a normal operation and a test operation by using a mode signal MOD given to a terminal S.
- a connection is made between terminals X and Z, by which the port A and the port B of the memory block 1 are connected to the side of the functional blocks A and B, respectively.
- a connection is made between terminal Y and Z of the selectors 3 A and 3 B, by which the port A and the port B of the memory block 1 are connected to the self-test circuits 10 A and 10 B via the buses 11 A and 11 B, respectively.
- the self-test circuit 10 A tests the memory block via the port A in a given procedure when an enable signal EA is at level “H”. After a completion of the given test, a completion signal FA output from the self-test circuit 10 A sifts from level “L” to level “H” and then its test result RA is output. In the same manner, the self-test circuit 10 B tests the memory block 1 via the port B in a given procedure when an enable signal EB is at level “H”. After a completion of the given test, a completion signal FB output from the self-test circuit 10 B shifts from level “L” to level “H” and then its test result RB is output.
- This dual port RAM has a test control circuit 20 for operating two self-test circuits 10 A and 10 B alternately.
- the test control circuit 20 has an inverter 21 a to be given a completion signal FA from the side of the port A and the inverter 21 a is connected in its output to FFs 22 a , 23 a , 24 a , and 25 a having four stages.
- Each clock terminal C of the FFs 22 a to 25 a is given a clock signal CKB from the side of the port B.
- An output of the FF 25 a is connected to a first input of a two-input negative AND gate (hereinafter, referred to as NAND) 26 a and a second input of the NAND 26 a is given a completion signal FA.
- NAND two-input negative AND gate
- test control circuit 20 has an FF 27 a for holding a completion signal FB in the side of the port B at a rise of the clock signal CKB.
- Outputs of the FF 27 a and the NAND 26 a are connected to first and second inputs of a three-input AND gate (hereinafter, referred to as AND) 28 a and a third input of the AND 28 a is given a start signal SA.
- the enable signal EA is output from an output of the AND 28 a and given to the self-test circuit 10 A.
- this test control circuit 20 has an inverter 21 b to be given the completion signal FB from the side of the port B and an output of the inverter 21 b is connected to FFs 22 b , 23 b , 24 b , and 25 b having four stages.
- Each clock terminal C of the FFs 22 b to 25 b is given a clock signal CK from the side of the port A.
- An output of the FF 25 b is connected to a first input of a two-input NAND 26 b and a second input of the NAND 26 b is given a completion signal FB.
- test control circuit 20 has an FF 27 b for holding a completion signal FA in the side of the port A at a rise of the clock signal CKA.
- Outputs of the FF 27 b and the NAND 26 b are connected to first and second inputs of a three-input AND 28 b and a third input of the AND 28 b is given a start signal SB.
- the enable signal EB is output from an output of the AND 28 b and given to the self-test circuit 10 B.
- FIG. 2 there is shown a signal waveform diagram showing a self-test operation in FIG. 1 .
- the operation in FIG. 1 will be described by referring to FIG. 2 .
- the selectors 3 A and 3 B are switched to the side of the terminal X with a mode signal MOD, by which the port A of the memory block 1 is connected to the system bus 2 A of the functional block A and is given a clock signal CKA.
- the port B of the memory block 1 is connected to the system bus 2 B of the functional block B and is given a clock signal CKB.
- the memory block 1 is disconnected from the self-test circuits 10 A and 10 B by the selectors 3 A and 3 B.
- the selectors 3 A and 3 B are switched to the side of the terminal Y with a mode signal MOD, by which the port A and the port B of the memory block 1 are disconnected from the functional blocks A and B by the selectors 3 A and 3 B and then connected to the self-test circuits 10 A and 10 B.
- the port A of the memory block 1 and the self-test circuit 10 A are given a clock signal CKA and the port B and the self-test circuit 10 B are given a clock signal CKB.
- an access change from the port A to the port B occurs between the phase 1 and the phase 2 and between the phase 4 and the phase 5.
- An access change from the port B to the port A occurs between the phase 2 and the phase 3 and between the phase 5 and the phase 1 of the next address.
- a start signal SA at level “H” and a start signal SB at level “L” are given, first, by which the self-test circuit 10 B is forcibly halted and the self-test circuit 10 A starts to operate. After starting the operation of the self-test circuit 10 A, the start signal SB is set to level “H”.
- the completion signal FA shifts from level “L” to level “H”. This causes a signal S 21 A output from the inverter 21 a to shift from “H” to “L”. Additionally, a signal S 26 A output from the NAND 26 a also shifts to “L”, by which an enable signal EA output from the AND 28 a shifts to “L”.
- a signal S 27 B output from the FF 27 b shifts from “L” to “H” at a rise of the clock signal CKA at time t 2 , by which an enable signal EB output from the AND 28 b shifts to “H”.
- the signal S 25 A output from the FF 25 a shifts from “H” to “L” with the fourth rise of the clock signal CKB after time t 1 . This causes the signal S 26 A of the NAND 26 a to return to “H”.
- the signal S 27 A of the FF 27 a is at “L” and therefore the enable signal EA remains at “L”.
- the signal S 25 B output from the FF 25 b shifts from “L” to “H” with the fourth rise of the clock signal CKA after time t 3 .
- the completion signal FB is at “L” and therefore a signal S 26 B output from the NAND 26 b remains at “H” and the enable signal EB is kept to be at “H”.
- the completion signal FB shifts from “L” to “H”. This causes the signal S 21 B of the inverter 21 b to shift from “H” to “L”. In addition, the signal S 26 B of the NAND 26 b also shifts to “L”, by which the enable signal EB shifts to “L”.
- the signal S 27 A of the FF 27 a shifts from “L” to “H” with a rise of the clock signal CKB at time t 8 , by which the enable signal EA shifts to “H”.
- test control circuit 20 controls the self-test circuits 10 A and 10 B to perform the test operation alternately with the same repetition.
- the dual port RAM has the self-test circuits 10 A and 10 B operating with the clock signals CKA and CKB of the port A and the port B and the test control circuit 20 for controlling the self-test circuits 10 A and 10 B so as to operate alternately.
- This enables a self-test of the memory block 1 with the clock signals CKA and CKB having two different timings, advantageously.
- FIG. 3 there is shown a configurational diagram of a dual port RAM showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
- the same elements as in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.
- This dual port RAM has a set/reset-type FF 30 instead of the test control circuit 20 of the dual port RAM in FIG. 1 .
- the FF 30 retains data having level “H” and outputs signals at “H” and “L” to output terminals Q and /Q when a pulse having level “H” is applied to a set terminal S and it retains data having “L” and outputs signals at “L” and “H” to the output terminals Q and /Q when a pulse having “H” is applied to a reset terminal R. Furthermore, the FF 30 has a preset terminal PS and a clear terminal CL so as to set retained data to “H” by applying a pulse at “H” to the preset terminal PS and so as to reset the retained data to “L” by applying a pulse at “H” to the clear terminal CL.
- the set terminal S of the FF 30 is given the completion signal FA of the self-test circuit 10 A and the reset terminal R is given the completion signal FB of the self-test circuit 10 B.
- the enable signal EB is output from the output terminal Q to the self-test circuit 10 B and the enable signal EA is output from the output terminal /Q to the self-test circuit 10 A.
- the clear terminal CL and the preset terminal PS are given start signals SA and SB, respectively. Other components are the same as in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 4 there is shown a signal waveform diagram showing a self-test operation in FIG. 3 .
- the self-test operation in FIG. 3 will be described by referring to FIG. 4 .
- a supply of the start signal SA at the start of the self-test clears the FF 30 , by which the enable signal EB output from the output terminal Q to the self-test circuit 10 B shifts to “L” and the enable signal EA output from the output terminal /Q to the self-test circuit 10 A shifts to “H”. This causes the self-test circuit 10 A to perform the self-test of the memory block 1 via the port A on the basis of the clock signal CKA.
- the self-test circuit 10 A After a completion of the operation of the self-test circuit 10 A, the self-test circuit 10 A outputs a pulse of the completion signal FA. This causes the FF 30 to be set, by which the enable signal EB output from the output terminal Q to the self-test circuit 10 B shifts to “H” and the enable signal EA output from the output terminal /Q to the self-test circuit 10 A shifts to “L”.
- the self-test circuit 10 B When the enable signal EB shifts to “H” the self-test circuit 10 B starts to operate at a timing of the next rise of the clock signal CKB. Then, the self-test circuit 10 B performs a self-test of the memory block 1 via the port B on the basis of the clock signal CKB.
- the self-test circuit 10 B After a completion of the operation of the self-test circuit 10 B, the self-test circuit 10 B outputs a pulse of the completion signal FB. This causes the FF 30 to be reset, by which the enable signal EB output from the output terminal Q to the self-test circuit 10 B shifts to “L” and the enable signal EA output from the output terminal /Q to the self-test circuit 10 A shifts to “H”.
- the self-test circuits 10 A and 10 B are controlled to perform test operations alternately by the same repetition.
- the dual port RAM according to the second embodiment has the self-test circuits 10 A and 10 B operating with the clock signals CKA and CKB of the port A and the port B and the FF 30 for controlling the self-test circuits 10 A and 10 B so as to operate alternately.
- the circuitry of the test control circuit 20 shown in FIG. 1 is not limited to one shown there.
- the number of stages for the FFs 22 a to 25 a can be set to an appropriate one according to a frequency or the like of the clock signals CKA and CKB.
- a delay circuit or the like can be used instead of the FFs 22 a to 25 a .
- the FF 30 in FIG. 3 has a preset function for initially starting one of the self-test circuits 10 A and 10 B, it is also possible to use a different circuit to start the self-test circuit 10 A or 10 B.
- the present invention comprises a first test circuit for performing a test to a storage area of a memory block via a first port on the basis of a first clock signal, a second test circuit for performing a test to the storage area of the memory block via the second port on the basis of a second clock signal, and a control circuit for causing the first and second test circuits to test the memory block alternately.
- the first test circuit starts a test operation on the basis of a first enable signal and outputs a first completion signal when the test operation completes and the second test circuit starts the test operation on the basis of a second enable signal and outputs a second completion signal when the test operation completes.
- the control circuit outputs the second enable signal on the basis of the first completion signal while halting the first enable signal and outputs the first enable signal on the basis of the second completion signal while halting the second enable signal. This causes the two test circuits to test the storage area of the memory block alternately, thereby enabling the test with clock signals having two different timings without problems.
Abstract
Description
- Phase 1: Reading data from the port A and comparing it with an expected value
- Phase 2: Reading data from the port B and comparing it with an expected value
- Phase 3: Writing data from the port A
- Phase 4: Reading data from the port A and comparing it with an expected value
- Phase 5: Reading data from the port B and comparing it with an expected value
Claims (2)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP014707/2002 | 2002-01-23 | ||
JP2002014707A JP3854159B2 (en) | 2002-01-23 | 2002-01-23 | Dual port RAM |
Publications (2)
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US20030140289A1 US20030140289A1 (en) | 2003-07-24 |
US7065686B2 true US7065686B2 (en) | 2006-06-20 |
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US10/173,826 Expired - Fee Related US7065686B2 (en) | 2002-01-23 | 2002-06-19 | Dual port RAM |
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US (1) | US7065686B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP3854159B2 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20080112241A1 (en) * | 2006-11-10 | 2008-05-15 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Integrated circuit device |
US20090245005A1 (en) * | 2008-03-31 | 2009-10-01 | Jin Ming Kam | Recovery of existing sram capacity from fused-out blocks |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
KR20060127390A (en) | 2003-11-26 | 2006-12-12 | 주식회사 아도반테스토 | Testing apparatus |
US7237167B2 (en) | 2004-02-06 | 2007-06-26 | Advantest Corporation | Testing apparatus |
JP5086577B2 (en) * | 2006-07-28 | 2012-11-28 | 株式会社日立超エル・エス・アイ・システムズ | Semiconductor device |
KR20080105512A (en) | 2007-05-31 | 2008-12-04 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Test system and test method for semiconductor device |
JP5101222B2 (en) * | 2007-09-10 | 2012-12-19 | ルネサスエレクトロニクス株式会社 | Semiconductor integrated circuit device |
CN107451017B (en) * | 2016-05-31 | 2021-05-07 | 中车株洲电力机车研究所有限公司 | Reliability test method and system for double-port memory |
CN111124769A (en) * | 2019-10-31 | 2020-05-08 | 中国空间技术研究院 | Embedded TDP RAM module test circuit and test method |
CN111341376B (en) * | 2020-03-11 | 2022-06-24 | 展讯通信(上海)有限公司 | SRAM (static random Access memory) timing sequence test circuit and test method |
Citations (3)
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US6104663A (en) * | 1999-01-06 | 2000-08-15 | Virage Logic Corp. | Memory array with a simultaneous read or simultaneous write ports |
US6269036B1 (en) * | 1999-11-12 | 2001-07-31 | Virage Logic Corporation | System and method for testing multiple port memory devices |
US20030120974A1 (en) * | 2000-09-14 | 2003-06-26 | Cadence Design Systems, Inc. | Programable multi-port memory bist with compact microcode |
-
2002
- 2002-01-23 JP JP2002014707A patent/JP3854159B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2002-06-19 US US10/173,826 patent/US7065686B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US6104663A (en) * | 1999-01-06 | 2000-08-15 | Virage Logic Corp. | Memory array with a simultaneous read or simultaneous write ports |
US6269036B1 (en) * | 1999-11-12 | 2001-07-31 | Virage Logic Corporation | System and method for testing multiple port memory devices |
US20030120974A1 (en) * | 2000-09-14 | 2003-06-26 | Cadence Design Systems, Inc. | Programable multi-port memory bist with compact microcode |
Non-Patent Citations (2)
Title |
---|
Wang et al., "A Built-In Self-Test and Self-Diagnosis Scheme for Heterogeneous SRAM Clusters", Nov. 19-21, 2001, 10th Asian IEEE Test Symposium 2001, pp. 103-108. * |
Wu et al., "Shadow Write and Read for At-Speed BIST of TDM SRAMs", Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 2001, IEEE International Test Conference 2001, pp. 985-994. * |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20080112241A1 (en) * | 2006-11-10 | 2008-05-15 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Integrated circuit device |
US7783942B2 (en) | 2006-11-10 | 2010-08-24 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Integrated circuit device with built-in self test (BIST) circuit |
US20090245005A1 (en) * | 2008-03-31 | 2009-10-01 | Jin Ming Kam | Recovery of existing sram capacity from fused-out blocks |
US7791974B2 (en) * | 2008-03-31 | 2010-09-07 | Intel Corporation | Recovery of existing SRAM capacity from fused-out blocks |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20030140289A1 (en) | 2003-07-24 |
JP2003217299A (en) | 2003-07-31 |
JP3854159B2 (en) | 2006-12-06 |
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